Ice dancing has been a toss-up all season, with each of the top three teams getting wins on the Grand Prix circuit. Isabelle Delobel and Olivier Schoenfelder looked to be the favorites in the beginning of the season; but, they didn’t skate their best at the Grand Prix final. The team that has capitalized on Delobel and Schoenfelder’s mistakes is the Russian team, Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin. Not only did they win at their home grand prix; but, they showed that they are true contenders by winning the Grand Prix final. Their Waltz Masquerade routine is magnificent when skated well, which is what they showed in Torino, just a few weeks ago, when they won the gold. The Americans, Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto, are contenders again this year; but, I just don’t believe that they have a routine that can allow them to win the gold medal that has alluded them, thus far. The top contenders in ice dancing almost always have very
passionate and dramatic free dance programs; but, it just doesn’t seem like Belbin and Agosto can pull-off a routine that has the passion and the drama of the other top teams. I expect them to get a medal; but, probably not the one that they want the most.
Expected Results:
Gold: Domnina and Shabalin (Russia)
Silver: Delobel and Schoenfelder (France)
Bronze: Belbin and Agosto (USA)
4th: Virtue and Moir (Canada), 5th: Khokhlova and Novitski (Russia)
(Photo of Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto by Rich Moffitt)
One thing you may not be aware of is that Shabalin has an injury and it’s taking him out of Russian nationals and possibly Europeans as well. So that could play in to how well they skate at Worlds.
When was the last time Delobel/Shoenfelder beat Belbin/Agosto? 2003 Trophee Lalique? It’s definitely been a while. I just don’t see that “upset” happening at Worlds, even though it would be wonderful to see Delobel/Schoenfelder finally get a medal there.
Who would have thought that, two years into an Olympic cycle, we’d have a Worlds with a guarantee of *two* new ice dance medalists? Fantastic.
By: James on January 2, 2008
at 9:40 pm
totally agreeing about the toss-up of the top 3 teams, and really in ice dance the differnce between 1st and 4th has lately been pretty much 0.10 of a point.
and you also do have to keep in mind if tessa and scott bring their A-game (which they often do) and the other teams so much as does a eensy weensy mistake, they’re right up there on the list as well. plus, they would have beaten isabelle and olivier at nhk 07 if it wasn’t for the cd lead
By: mag on January 5, 2008
at 10:40 pm